When launching Valorant or signing in via Riot Client, players often face Riot Vanguard error popups. The most critical is **VAN 152**. It directly signifies that the anti-cheat system restricted your physical hardware device at a low level. Let's analyze Vanguard internal mechanics, hardware serials, ban symptoms, and a step-by-step safe recovery protocol.
How Riot Vanguard Works and What It Tracks
Riot Vanguard is a kernel-level (Ring 0) anti-cheat system operating via a core driver (`vgc.sys`) that initializes during Windows boot before user-mode processes start. Unlike standard user-mode anti-cheats, Vanguard queries low-level storage and motherboard controllers directly.
- Motherboard serial number (SMBIOS BaseBoard Serial Number, System UUID).
- Unique physical drive serial numbers (NVMe SSD & HDD Volume Serials, Smart Data).
- MAC addresses of all network interfaces (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, virtual adapters).
- Graphics card identifier (GPU UUID / PCIe Bus Device & Vendor ID).
- RAM module details (RAM Serials & Manufacturer Slot IDs).
- Hardware TPM 2.0 security keys (Endorsement Key) and Secure Boot / HVCI status.
Complete Breakdown of Riot Vanguard Error Codes
| Error Code | Root Cause | Issue Category | Resolution Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN 152 | Hardware PC Ban (HWID Ban) | Hardware Restriction | Wait 120 days or use an HWID Spoofer + BIOS flash |
| VAL 5 | Logged in from another device or account ban | Account Restriction | Check account status or create a fresh profile |
| VAN 61 / 51 | vgc service failure (Vanguard Service) | Windows Driver Glitch | Restart vgc in services.msc or reinstall Vanguard |
| VAN 106 / 68 | Network connection drop / integrity breach | Network / NIC driver | Reset network stacks (netsh winsock reset) and update NIC drivers |
Temporary Spoofer vs Permanent Spoofer Comparison
| Spoofer Type | Virtualization Method | BIOS/Disk Persistence | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary (RAM-based) | Virtualizes serials in memory per session | Leaves physical drive & BIOS untouched | Daily gaming on hardware-banned PCs |
| Permanent (Flash-based) | Flashes SMBIOS tables and rewrites drive IDs | Permanent changes to chips and system registry | One-time ban reset without launching tools |
8-Step Step-by-Step Hardware Ban Recovery Protocol for Valorant
- 1. Complete low-level clean format of all attached physical drives (SSD/HDD) and fresh installation of Windows 10/11 PRO (22H2 / 23H2).
- 2. Flash or update motherboard BIOS (AFUDOS / AMIDEWIN / FlashBack) to completely rewrite internal ACPI/SMBIOS system tables.
- 3. Clear TPM 2.0 hardware security keys (Clear TPM NVRAM) inside BIOS UEFI and disable embedded TPM chip.
- 4. Change physical network adapter MAC address in Device Manager and set a unique computer Hostname.
- 5. Clear leftover system traces in Windows Registry and reset OS MachineGUID identifiers.
- 6. Launch a verified HWID Spoofer to virtualize disk, GPU, and network adapter serial numbers before initial login.
- 7. Register a fresh Riot Games account from a clean mobile connection / browser without reusing any old credentials.
- 8. Launch Valorant and run a 24-hour test match to verify successful hardware virtualization.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About VAN 152 & Vanguard
How long exactly does a hardware ban last in Valorant?
First-time hardware restrictions in Valorant last exactly 120 days (4 months). Attempting logins on fresh accounts without a spoofer resets the restriction timer.
Does a regular Windows reinstall help?
No. OS reinstallation clears software IDs only. Hardware serials of drives and motherboard stay identical, triggering immediate bans.
What is the difference between Temporary and Permanent Spoofers?
Temporary Spoofers virtualize serials in RAM until system reboot. Permanent Spoofers modify BIOS tables and drive controllers directly.
Is it safe to use software in Valorant after unbanning?
Yes, provided you choose verified private software with active Undetected status and reasonable legit aimbot settings.
Is resetting the router or changing IP required during bypass?
Yes, rebooting the router for a fresh dynamic IP or using a private proxy is recommended to prevent Vanguard from linking previous network sessions.
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